Adjustable lever-effecting selfcleaning ignition point



Feb. 10, 1948. A. K. WIHANTO ADJUSTABLE LEVER-EFFECTING SELF-CLEANINGIGNITION POINT Fiied Dec. 11, 1946 ADOLPH K W/HAIVTO ATI'OKNY PatentedFeb. 10, 1948 ADJUSTABLE LEVER-EFFECTING SELF- CLEANING IGNITION EPQINTAdolph K. Wihanto, Maiden, Mass.

Application December 11, 1946, Serial No. 115,582

2 Claims. ((31. 209-36)) This invention relates to an adjustable contactlever which is adapted to be installed in the distributor of an internalcombustion engine to sheet and maintain the cleaning of the breakerpoints of the distributor.

An object of the invention is to provide a device which, installed inthe distributor of an internal combustion engine, will provideself-cleaning breaker points.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device that can beeasily installed, and will replace the breaker points in use at thepresent time.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the inventionconsists of the novel details of construction, arrangement andcombination of parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed andillustrated in the acompanying drawing which:

figure l is an elevational view of an embodiment of the inventioninstalled in a distributor cf an internal combustion engine;

Figure 2 is a peripheral view thereof;

Figure 3 is the same as Figure 2 looking at the opposite peripherythereof;

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-8 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the adjuster nut the figure having beenrevolved 90 to more clearly illustrate the construction;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 1, with the contact onone of the hexagonal edges and Figure 8 is a sectional view on the line8-8 of Figure 4.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the reference numeral itdesignates the distributor housing of an internal combustion engine, andI l the timing shaft thereof.

Mounted on the shaft ii in the conventional manner is the cam it which,as shown, may be hexagonal or will comprise as many faces as there arecylinders for the proper timing thereof. The shaft 1 I is provided withthe oil reserve l3 for the lubrication thereof.

The housing i is provided with the spindle ll for the conventionalbreaker arm which is replaced by the construction later to be described,and embodying the invention.

Mounted on the spindle I4 is a sleeve l which is made of insulatingmaterial, and is provided with an annular groove it for the retention ofthe notched end ll of the breaker lever i1 therein.

The breaker lever i1, being mounted on the sleeve l5 by having a loopportion l8 thereof bent to conform to the shape of the sleeve l5 and thenotched end ll of the lever l1 firmly grips the sleeve 95. A strip ofspring metal i9 is secured to the inclined portion 20 of the lever H bythe contact point it and looped around the curved portion it of thelever ii is connected at its opposite end by means of the vertical slot22 to the terminal post screw 23 in the terminal post 24 secured to thehousing is, and the lead 25 from the con-denser 25 is also connected tothe post 24, the condenser being retained in the housing ll by a springclip 27 secured to the housing ill by screws 28.

The lever i'i contains a second inclined portion 23, and a straightportion Sil intermediate the portions 23 and 29 which is provided with acentral aperture 3 i.

Mounted on the spring it by means of the screw bolt 22 is the L-shapedcontact member 33 which is made of insulating material, and is providedwith a square opening to conform to the square portion of the bolt 32 toprevent rotation of the member with relation to the bolt. A washer isinserted between the head of the bolt and the member 33, and the boltpasses through the member spring i3 and the aperture 3| to receiver thenut 36, the conical portion 35 of which engages the edges of theaperture 3|. With the assembly described thus connected as a unit, andthe tension of the spring i3 actin on the lever ill by the adjustment ofthe nut 34, this part of the invention is complete.

A sleeve 36 of high carbon steel shaped to conform to the cam 12, ismounted thereon, and the sleeve is provided with an annular track 31 atthe center thereof, which engages with the groove 33 in the member 33.

This sleeve forms the moving contact or point which is engaged by thepoint 2 I, but such a construction will be used only if the cam itselfis not of the proper material to form the moving contact.

During operation of the engine on which the distributor is mounted, thespace between the sleeve 33 and contact ii is adjusted by means of thenut 36. The constant sliding contact of the cam or sleeve 36 with thepoint 2| will keep both of the engaging surfaces clean and serviceablefor along time.

It is tobe noted that a suitable felt mat may be placed in thedistributor housing in contact with the track 31 on the sleeve 36 andsaturated with lubricant, will lessen the wear on the track and contactpoint 2i, thus adding to the service and life of the device. Due to therapidity with which the lubricant may be used, lubricant should be usedgenerously on the felt to replace the loss of lubricant therefrom.

It is believed that with the above description, the operation andconstruction of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart, and it is to be understood that changes in the minor mounting saidlever, an insulating sleeve on said 10 stud to which said lever isconnected, a notched end on said lever, a groove in said sleeve toreceive said notched end to hold the lever on said sleeve, a springsecured to said lever for the tensioning thereof, a timing stud securedto said 15 spring, and said lever. a nut on said stud for adlusting thetiming and tension of said spring, a contact point receiving the end ofsaid spring and said lever in fixed relation to each other, a slot atthe other end of said spring for connecting said spring to the terminalpost of said distributoi', and a contact sleeve on the cam of saiddistributor forcing the movable contact adapted for contact with saidfirst mentioned contact.

2. The invention as in claim 1 wherein said lever is provided with anaperture through which said stud extends, and the nut is of theself-centerlng type having the centering conical shaped portion thereon.

LPH K. WIHANTO.

